Fragile console lid/interior components!?
 

Has anyone had problems with this? My arm naturally rests on the console lid, and so pressure is typically applied to it as my arm sits there or if I lean over to pick up something.

One day, I heard a CRACK. I looked in, and the little plastic piece that slides under the rail (so the console lid slides forward and back) snapped off. I wasn't putting that much pressure on it, and as a central piece of interior, I'm shocked it's so fragile!

I hope it's covered under warranty even though I'm the one that caused it.

Likewise, I had a passenger bang her knee getting in my 8 b/c I had the glovebox opened and she didn't look. Again, I heard a small crack, and now the glovebox's hanging hinge (you can see it grabbing the pin on the right side of the glovebox) snapped. The glovebox has a small gap now on the left side as it's not hanging perfectly.

Again, do you think this will be covered under warranty even though it was technically caused by the owner (and or passenger)?

I don't like the feeling I'm getting that the interior is the plastic equivalent of Balsa wood...

The center console lid is poorly designed. I can't see it lasting very long.

Overall, the interior is well designed, but the actual parts are so easily damaged that I feel like I'm walking on egg shells when I move around the car.

LLathos - The same EXACT thing happened to me. I haven't gotten to the dealership yet though. I was also wondering if they will cover it under warranty, or at least how much it would cost to fix. Be sure to post any info you might get. Thanks.

Mine console lid just broke also. I'm not worried about the warranty issue, it broke....I have a warranty.

Called dealership and got an appt now for work to be done.

Center console
Glovebox
M-flash update

Hopefully all goes well.

My console lid broke as you described. It was covered by warranty.

Haven't had a problem with the console lid, but I will be going to the dealer to have them a replace a rear window defroster button that inexplicably cracked when I tapped it a few weeks ago. Still functions, but it's just split along the right side edge.

I agree - sometimes I feel like I broke the arm rest, but then it snaps back into place.

Yeah, that "center console" thing is a piece of crap. Actually a lot of the interior plastic parts are absurdly flimsy! Overall I'm very happy with the car, but they should have built a few of these things sturdier. I'm sure I'll break SOMETHING before too long...

There is a recall on these bottons so that won't be a problem.

I too have broken the console lid. It is built horribly. I haven't bothered to get it fixed because it seems to work better for me broken, but it IS broken.

Thanx, Haze. It sounds like I've been lucky with the center console lid thing. I leave mine open and slid all the way back about 90% of the time (I always seem to have something in the cupholders...).

Best of luck to y'all -- it sounds like a design/workmanship problem, so perhaps the console lid will become another minor recall item.

BTW, was there a TSB, memo, or other notice released on this issue?

I got my 8 in July of last year, and the button latch on the center console cover broke a few weeks ago. I brought it in for repair yesterday and Mazda is fixing this under warranty, but they had to order a new lid.

I knew that flimsy lid would be the first thing to break! Mine had about an 11 month life time!

Searched on buttons/switches. Here's a link to another thread dealing interior annoyances -- fragile buttons. I was unaware that this was becoming such a widespread issue.

Fragile Switches

on a side note, did anyone how easily the silver accents on the side of the center console get scratched?? i was vacuuming my car and i literally tapped the accent with the tip of the hose and it scratched! just yesterday i noticed another scratch where the rear seats are and there was a huge scratch that actually was black cause the scratch was so deep. i know it's unintentional but now i'm wary of having rear passengers because they may accidentally scratch the sides. call me anal but it's such an eyesore to see the scratches. i guess i might have to get the carbon fiber accents.

Combining these issues with the parts availability problems (discussed in nearby thread)...

What are the chances my dealer is going to have the center console lid and glovebox parts to replace my damaged ones?

I've noticed the give on the center console when I lean on it as I squeeze my 6 foot, 200+ pound frame into the car. I've wondered about it's durability. This thread gives me some answers. I'll watch it closely. I was thinking about filling that compartment with concrete anyways....

I broke my center console in the exact manner described. The replacement was covered under warranty but I had to wait several weeks for the part to arrive.

I'm tempted to leave it open now also, so I don't break it again. However, I do notice a lot more heat coming out in the summer time when the cover is open.

I haven't broken it. I rest my forearm on the lid when I'm driving, but I'm careful not to put any real weight on the lid. I slide back the lid and drop my wallet, glasses, and cell phone in the cup holder area everyday I drive the car and haven't had any probs yet. It's definitely not a load bearing structure - just a cover/arm rest for the console. So don't step on it!